RCN Health News Alert

Thursday 30 July

Royal College of Nursing explains its position on assisted suicide

In response to comments made in The Times' opinion pages yesterday, The Times today printed a letter from Dr. Peter Carter, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing, which explains the RCN's position on assisted suicide. The letter says: "Sir, Considering the understandably strong opinions held on the issue of assisted suicide, I feel it essential that the Royal College of Nursing's recent change of policy is clearly understood. First, to clarify, the RCN's position of neutrality is not implicit support for assisted suicide and we are absolutely not advising nurses to engage in dialogue with patients on this contentious issue. The law is clear that to do so would be a criminal offence. Second, in relation to the Bill in Scotland we are not working to help Margo MacDonald, MSP, to get her proposals through the Scottish Parliament. Third, it is important to make clear that our consultation process was robust. As well as drawing more than 1,200 detailed responses we also held discussions at our congress and took submissions from our forums. Overall our consultation reached 175,000 members. The RCN's strength on this issue is that it is able to encompass a broad range of views and while through a representative council we have changed our stance to neutral — leading inevitably to passionate debate on all sides — it is clear that common themes of improving palliative care, safeguarding the nurse-patient relationship and protecting vulnerable patients are absolutely unmovable."

Law Lords to rule on case of 'right to die' MS sufferer

The House of Lords are today to rule on the case of MS sufferer Debbie Purdy, who wants the law on assisted suicide to be clarified. Ms Purdy says she is thinking of going to die at the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland, and she wants her husband to be able to accompany her without the fear of prosecution upon returning to the UK. Ms Purdy has already had rulings in the High Court and the Court of Appeal go against her case and today's decision in the House of Lords will be her last attempt at success within the UK legal system. Several reports note that the decision comes the week after the Royal College of Nursing moved to adopt a neutral stance on assisted suicide. The Guardian speculates that this move indicates "that opinion in the medical profession is changing".

The Daily Mail today picks up the story of novelist Jane Aiken Hodge, 91, who last month committed suicide in secret amid fears that she would criminally implicate her family by discussing her intentions with them. The article notes that the RCN changed their stance on assisted suicide last week.

The Scotsman today features two letters on assisted suicide, with one making reference to the change in stance from the RCN.

'NHS neglecting alcohol addicts' says report

A Public Accounts Committee report has found that the NHS is not doing enough to help those who are consuming high levels of alcohol. The report found that the NHS spends around £197 per head on people who drink heavily, compared to around £1,744 per head on drug addicts. The report also warned that the number of alcohol-related hospital admissions is increasing rapidly and called for the Government to replace the current drinking 'unit' guidelines with a more understandable system.

Future of fast-track treatment centres under threat

The future of independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs) is under threat after it was revealed that the NHS will have to pay £400 million within the next two years to renew its ISTC contracts. The NHS is expected to have to pay around £200 million for operations that it has agreed to buy from ISTCs. A further £200 million will be needed to buy back the premises built by private sector operators. Health Minister Mike O'Brien said that Primary Care Trusts will have to decide whether to recommission the treatments ISTCs provide.

Parliamentary Update

• Both Houses in recess until Monday 12 October

Other business

• Children, Schools & Families Committee publish 7th report on Training of Children & Families Social Workers
• Public Accounts Committee publish report on Reducing Alcohol Harm: Health services in England for alcohol misuse
• Work & Pensions Committee publish 5th report on Tackling Pensioner Poverty